Shen Valley

Marissa Ann Szczyglak, a senior at Shenandoah Valley High School, was named student of the month for November by the Shenandoah Rotary Club.

Marissa’s high school activities include cheerleading captain, Downtown Shenandoah Inc. representative, softball captain, Life Skills assistant, drama club secretary, National Honor Society secretary, student council treasurer, All American cheerleader, yearbook, Schuylkill County Youth Summit president, window painting, Youth Leadership, float committee, Spring Queen committee, Homecoming committee, Homecoming candidate, Spring Queen candidate and Powder Puff football.

Her community service includes church volunteer, fire company volunteer, Special Olympics, Heritage Day, church bingo, Polish American Fire Company block party, Rescue Hook and Ladder Fire Company block party, Elementary Field Day, Elementary Christmas Fair, Elementary Book Fair, Shenandoah Christmas Lighting Fund canvassing, Shenandoah Rotary Club pet inoculation volunteer, Downtown Shenandoah Inc. Christmas volunteer, SKIP volunteer, dodgeball tournament, Hoops for Heart and American Red Cross blood drive.

A daughter of John and Barbara Szczyglak, Shenandoah, she plans to attend college and study medical imaging.

North Schuylkill

Bobby Grigas, Frackville, a senior at North Schuylkill High School, was named student of the month for October by the Frackville Rotary Club.

He is a member of the National Honor Society, Science Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society. He is also active in Big Brother/Big Sisters and captain’s club. A member of varsity football, basketball and baseball teams, he was named team captain in football and baseball.

He is a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Parish, Frackville, and volunteers with the Frackville Teener program, Ashland Black Diamond youth football program and Girardville Basketball Association.

His joint senior project, a Punt, Pass and Kick competition, raised more than $500 in toys and cash for the Schuylkill County Toys for Tots campaign.

Bobby, a son of Ed and Kim Grigas, Frackville, is interested in attending college to major in nursing or other medical related fields.

Mahanoy Middle

Anthony Merchlinsky and Jordan Karmonick were named students of the month for October by the faculty of Mahanoy Area Middle School.

The program is sponsored by the Mahanoy City Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 695. Nominees are judged on the basis of multiple achievements, character, leadership, citizenship and scholastic aptitude.

Anthony is a son of Gregory and Suzanne Merchlinsky, Mahanoy City. He is a member of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Parish, Mahanoy City, where he is an altar server and greeter.

Anthony is involved in seventh- and eighth-grade football, seventh- and eighth-grade basketball, track and field, National Junior Honor Society, student council and Theatre Arts. He volunteers with Rhoades Foundation functions and Meals on Wheels.

He plans to attend college and major in engineering and play football.

Jordan is a daughter of Steve and Jamie Karmonick, Mahanoy City, and a member of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Parish.

Jordan is involved in seventh- and eighth-grade girls’ basketball, track and field, chorus, Theatre Arts, ski club, student council, National Junior Honor Society, of which she is president, intramural basketball and volleyball, CYO basketball and Shenandoah Soccer League. She volunteers at church food drives, serves as scorekeeper for Biddy Basketball and helps at the Mahanoy City Softball League concession stand.

She plans to attend the University of North Carolina and become a doctor of pharmacy.

Teen cited for

distracted driving

FRIEDENSBURG — A Pine Grove woman escaped injury when the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier she was driving crashed Wednesday at 165 Stone Mountain Road, Wayne Township.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Cassandra Carl, 18, was driving west when she became distracted talking on her cellphone, crossed the yellow line and went into the eastbound lane.

She panicked and over corrected, causing the car to spin clockwise. The car went off the north side of the road and down an embankment, where it flipped onto its driver’s side and came to a stop in a group of pine trees, police said.

Carl was extricated but refused medical treatment. Police said she will be cited as a result of the crash.

Friedensburg firefighters and Schuylkill EMS assisted at the scene.

Driver injured

in black ice crash

CRESSONA — A Schuylkill Haven man suffered a minor injury when the vehicle he was driving crashed about 8:30 a.m. Friday in the borough.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Harold Dehappart, 73, was driving his 2013 Toyota Prius north on Zerbe Street, which was covered with black ice due to freezing mist and fog. The vehicle slid on black ice along a left curve in the road, about 66 feet south of Front Street, Cressona. Dehappart lost control of the car, which traveled into the northbound berm and into the backyard at 7 Graeff St. It traveled across the yard for about 30 feet before striking the southwest corner of the residence and coming to rest facing north against the house.

The residence at 7 Graeff St. sustained heavy damage from the impact. No one was injured inside the building.

Dehappart was taken by Schuylkill EMS to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street. He was not charged as a result of the crash.

Cressona and Schuylkill Haven fire departments assisted at the scene.

Police: Driver had

diabetic incident

MOUNT PLEASANT — A New York state man escaped serious injuries when the 2008 Dodge Caravan he was driving crashed about 4:10 p.m. Thursday in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81, mile marker 113, in Foster Township.

State police at Frackville said Patrick M. Damon, 67, of Horseheads, was driving north in the left lane when he suffered a diabetic emergency, causing him to drive onto the west berm and strike a guide rail before coming to a stop.

Minersville EMS took Damon to an area hospital.

Police said the man will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash.

New York man

reports boat theft

FRACKVILLE — A New York man reported his boat and trailer were stolen between 7 and 9 p.m. Dec. 15, 2015, from an unknown parking lot off Interstate 81.

State police at Frackville are investigating the incident that occurred when the victim, Allen Baldwin, 64, of Oswego, was driving on Interstate 81 and began experiencing problems with a wheel on his boat trailer. He exited I-81, possibly in the Frackville area, and left the boat and trailer in a parking lot while he drove north to Hazleton to buy a new wheel for the boat trailer.

When he returned to where he thought he parked the trailer, it was no longer there.

The boat — valued at $1,200 — is a 1985 Smokercraft flat-bottom fishing boat. It is 14 feet long and has a metallic brown exterior and aqua blue interior. The hull identification number is 8839FE, and the boat has a 15 horsepower Evinrude motor. The 1985 boat trailer has a New York license plate of BC28317.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

Baldwin is offering a $200 reward for the return of the boat and trailer.

Gas tank stolen in

New Philadelphia

NEW PHILADELPHIA — State police at Frackville are investigating a theft that occurred between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2 at a garage along Route 209, outside of New Philadelphia, Blythe Township.

Police said someone removed a fuel tank owned by H.M.C. Inc., Bernville, from outside of the building and fled. The tank is portable, mounted on a skid. It is diamond plated and holds 50 gallons of fuel.

The estimated cost of the tank is $250.

Police said the tank had a hand crank attached to the top that is valued at $150.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

Police: Firearm

found on Rt. 183

REEDSVILLE — State police at Schuylkill Haven reported receiving a lost weapon that was found about noon Thursday on Route 183 in Wayne Township.

Police said someone found a case containing a firearm that appeared to be used for hunting near the center lane of the highway.

Anyone with information on the found property is asked to call police at 570-739-1330.

HARRISBURG — As Gov. Tom Wolf announced steps his administration has taken to address agriculture industry needs Saturday, several protests erupted inside and outside the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center during the 100th show.

Inside, an animal rights group, Direct Action Everywhere, displayed banners reading “Until Every Animal Is Free” and shouted remarks, interrupting Wolf’s opening ceremony address in the Large Arena.

They were speaking out against the weeklong event’s promotion of animals as human property, according to a press release from organizer Rachel Zeigler.

The animal activists charged the exposition with supporting violence against animals in the meat, egg and dairy industries. As Wolf concluded his opening speech, two activists took the stage with a banner declaring “We Are All Earthlings United for Animal Liberation” before chanting “It’s Not Food, It’s Violence” with almost two dozen other activists as they were removed from the stage.

“Governor Wolf came here today to support an industry whose day has passed,” Zeigler said, “clear majorities of Americans support protection of animals from all suffering and harm — something that can only happen when we end this violent industry.”

They were removed by Pennsylvania State Police, as some audience members cheered.

Outside, two groups of protesters set up near the Cameron Street entrance. One group, Pennsylvanians Against Fracking, held up signs reading, “Stop Fracking With Our Farms” and “Farms Not Fracking.” The other, members of Lancaster Against Pipelines, displayed a quilt protesting the Williams Companies Inc. proposed Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project.

A section of the 178-mile proposed pipeline, called the Central Penn South Line, includes running 17.6 miles of pipeline through five townships in the western part of Schuylkill County — Eldred, Hegins, Frailey, Tremont and Pine Grove townships. Williams is planning to expand its Transco pipeline to connect the natural gas fields in northern Pennsylvania to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern states by 2017.

Tim Spiese, board chairman of LAP, said the proposed pipeline will be going through more than 60 farms that have been preserved for agriculture usage, and the area could become an industrial gas hub.

“With the pipeline taskforce, the question was never really asked, ‘Do we really need this pipeline?’ ” Spiese said. “Lawsuits are forthcoming.”

Joining Speise were Nancy Jeffries and Robin Maguire, both of Conestoga Township, and about dozen protesters.

Spiese said he spoke with Jim Hepler, a Pitman area farmer, who would also be affected. Hepler was not at the farm show protest. When contacted Saturday evening, Hepler said he had talked with Spiese last summer about his concerns.

“I’m very opposed to this thing. But, this is too big for me to handle and it’s going to happen. I guess I’ll turn lemons into lemonade. I’m still very opposed to it, but they’ve got too much money and power,” Hepler said, noting about 14 acres of his Eldred Township property would be involved with the pipeline.

He said it wouldn’t be so bad if the pipeline was just going over a farm field; however, where it’s scheduled to be located is “within 50 feet of my heifer barn, and it’s right on top of us.”

Hepler’s choices are to sell the company a permanent easement or take the company to court to fight them taking the land under “eminent domain.” Hepler said his attorney advised him not to take it that far and not to let it go to the eminent domain route.

They’re planning to start construction in mid- to late 2016, Hepler said.

Spiese said the quilt on display Saturday is part of PAQuiltProject.org. The group wants people to express what they love, treasure and value about their land and heritage, saying “Our most basic American values are not for sale”, according to its flier. More information about LAP can be found at www.lancasteragainstpipelines.com.

Despite the protests, Wolf was able to address Saturday’s crowd gathered for the farm show kickoff.

Wolf said, “I envision a Pennsylvania agriculture industry that builds on our existing strengths and expands to meet growing demands for food year round. But to do that requires new investments in technology, in market development, in education and workforce development, and in improving access to food. It requires us to be vigilant on matters of food and animal safety, as well as plant health, and controlling against invasive threats. These are priorities for my administration, and we’re making great progress, which people can see firsthand here at the 100th Farm Show.”

According to a farm show press release, among concerns Wolf has attempted to address are: developing a 10-year strategic plan, creating a pathogenic Avian Influenza emergency response plan, combatting the spotted Laternfly, assisting generational transition planning, investing in young farmers through loan programs, addressing hunger through charitable food systems and ensuring farmers receive full credit for conservation measures already in place to help clean up the Chesapeake Bay.

Rochelle Davis and her brother, Luke Hunsberger, Philadelphia, rolled into Pottsville on Saturday afternoon to have a set of tattoos put on the tops of their feet.

“We want a yin and yang symbol. He’ll have one part. I’ll have the other. His will represent the dark and mine, the light. His will have very dark, hard lines. Mine will be very happy and upbeat and colorful,” Davis said.

Since Davis is one of the stars of the classic 1994 film adaptation of James O’Barr’s comic book “The Crow,” Kim Bowers, the owner of the tattoo studio they were headed to, Fallen Angels at 202 N. Centre St., decided to turn their visit into an event.

“I even baked crow cookies,” Bowers said, referring to a tray of more than 100 crow-shaped sugar cookies. More than half of them were slathered with dark gray icing.

And after a stop at Roma Pizza for lunch — and a thick slice of chocolate cake to go — Davis and her brother worked with Bowers to design the tattoos. Davis also greeted fans, signed autographs and talked about the role she landed in the iconic film.

She was born in Philadelphia on June 14, 1980, according to the Internet Movie Database.

“As a child, I forcefully pushed my way into acting. My family didn’t want me to do it, but I pushed until they allowed me to start auditioning. And it was going well. Next thing I knew, I was doing a part in a movie,” Davis, 35, said.

In January 1993, she traveled to North Carolina to work on “The Crow,” and she said she’ll never forget the day she met the film’s star, Brandon Lee:

“I was in a car with one of the drivers and we were riding by the trailers where the hairdressers were. He saw me and he started waving his hands and yelled ‘Rochelle!’ And I looked over and said ‘Who’s that waving to me?’ The driver said ‘Oh, that’s Brandon.’ Then Brandon said ‘I’m Brandon. Nice to meet you!’ And I said ‘I’m Rochelle. Nice to meet you!’ That’s how we met. It was like we were screaming at each other from 50 feet away. Then once we were face to face we gave each other a hug. One of the things I’ll always remember about him is we hugged. And he said one of the things that I always say, ‘I’m a hugger.’ That’s how he was. He was very personal. You couldn’t not like him.”

She and Lee worked together for a few weeks.

“My favorite scene with Brandon is the graveyard scene. We spent so much time prior to that getting ready for it and trying to make it perfect, every motion. He’d sit there and smoke his Camel Lights and talk to me about how we were going to do it. And once we were finished, we took all the cigarette butts off the set and got started. I never thought he’d end up being a smoker. If he had not died, I believe eventually he would have quit. He knew it was terrible for you,” Davis said.

Lee died March 31, 1993, as a result of an accident that occurred on the set of the film, on Soundstage 4 of Carolco Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina. While filming a scene, Lee was injured by a blast from a prop revolver. After five hours of surgery at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, he was pronounced dead. He was 28, according to an April 1993 article in The Los Angeles Times.

Davis was among the members of the crew at the hospital that night.

“We went up there. There were like 30 or 40 or 50 people in the waiting room. We sat in there for, like, 10 hours or however long he was in there. My mom went up to ICU and found out they didn’t have a bed waiting for him. And she was a critical care registered nurse, so she took me out of the hospital, knowing they were going to come down and say he had passed. And by the time we got back to the condo we were staying at, they called on the phone and said that he had passed,” Davis said.

Her mother is Maun Flanagan, Philadelphia.

“There was only supposed to be another week of shooting. But after his death, we ended up shooting for another month or a month and a half, a good four weeks easily. It went by like a blur. It felt like somebody spun you really fast on a top or something and just put you down and said ‘Go!’ That’s what it felt like being on set again, a lot of movement, a lot of chaos and me just kind of zoned and doing whatever it was I had to do at the moment to get through it,” Davis said.

When she saw the film in California in 1994, she thought it was “amazing.”

“At that point, I hadn’t seen it all put together. I hadn’t even seen dailies. I’d only seen what I saw from my eyes. So I didn’t see a piece of that movie before it was out,” she said.

Even though the character of “Sarah” returned in the film sequel, “The Crow: City of Angels (1996)” and a television show called “The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1999),” Davis did not.

“I was 12 or 13 years old. And there were a lot of repercussions being an actress at that point in my life. I experienced a lot of cruelty from other children. Even my home life was difficult. So, for a while, I stayed pretty hidden from that lifestyle. I decided I didn’t want this for my life. So I went from the limelight into hiding for many years,” Davis said.

Over the years she worked numerous jobs to survive. Davis said she’s skilled as a photographer and a massage therapist. In 2008, she decided to celebrate her place in film history by meeting fans at conventions.

She didn’t return to acting until 2009, when she played a “Detective” in “Hell House.” Recently, she was cast in a film called “Grotesque,” which is now in production, according to the IMDb. She’s playing a lead role as a character named “Alera.”

“I’ll be working on that film in Virginia next month. It should be fun!” Davis said.

Bowers said she met Davis in 2014 at the Lehigh Valley Itz-A-Con in Allentown. Bowers was selling her artwork at a booth there, including an acrylic painting of Brandon Lee as “The Crow.”

“I saw it and kind of stopped and said ‘I have to look at that picture.’ I bought it, and it’s still hanging up on the ‘Crow’ wall I have in my home. It’s the centerpiece among all the other ‘Crow’ stuff that I have,” Davis said.

While Davis hadn’t returned to the role of “Sarah” in films, she said she developed a better understanding of the character’s struggles as she grew older:

“She was really tough and managed to fight through things to deal with her trials and tribulations. I did a lot of that after I played her in the movie. Like ‘Sarah,’ there were a lot of hardships I had to fight through.”

Edwina Horn, Schuylkill Haven, a member of the USA Kettlebell Team, was awarded the bronze medal in the veteran division of the American Kettlebell Alliance, World Kettebell Competition in November.

Thirty-seven countries were represented at the competition that was held in Dublin, Ireland.

Edwina is a kettlebell instructor at Schuylkill Racquet & Fitness Club, Orwigsburg.

BY DONNIE COLLINS

STAFF WRITER

From Christian Hackenberg to Tyler Yazujian, from Carl Nassib to Jordan Dudas, there were dozens of players who got the Nittany Lions where they went during the 2015 season: to the TaxSlayer Bowl, for sure.

But it was also a second-consecutive seven-win season and the worst two-year stretch for wins since the lackluster 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Here’s a position-by-position look at where the Nittany Lions were strong, and where they were not-so-dominant during a season in which they seemed on the cusp of bigger things and, yet, wound up boasting the same record they did in head coach James Franklin’s first season in 2014.

QUARTERBACKS

Sure,

Trace McSorley got into seven games and threw passes in five of them —why exactly was most of the media complaining he didn’t play more? —- but essentially, this is a grade on Christian Hackenberg’s final season with the Nittany Lions.

While his performance continues to make him a point of contention among Penn State fans, he really didn’t have a poor season. Although he was picked off four times in the last four games —- all losses —- he only threw two others all season, a drastic decrease from the 15 he fired in 2014. He completed 53.5 percent of his passes for 2,525 yards, both of which are pretty good for an offense that pivoted on its running game and a passing attack that was hardly sophisticated.

But the one fair knock on Hackenberg is that there were times he simply couldn’t get the ball into the end zone. In Penn State’s seven wins, he had a 12-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In six losses, it was 4-to-5. In the wins, he averaged 223.4 passing yards per game. In the losses, 160.1.

Fair or not, fans expected someone of his pedigree, with his immense talent and skills, to be a consistently dominant player. He wasn’t that, and it’s actually difficult to remember a game in which he was statistically dominant in a loss.

As Hackenberg went, so went the offense.

GRADE: C

RUNNING BACKS

It’s stunning to think where Penn State’s offense would be without

Saquon Barkley, who got exactly one carry in the season-opening loss to Temple before coming on to earn freshman All-American honors.

The true freshman rushed for 1,076 yards and seven touchdowns, essentially in 9½ games due to that Temple inactivity and an ankle injury that cost him the second half against San Diego State and the following two games.

But if it’s difficult to find Hackenberg dominance in the tough losses, it’s not so tough locating games where Barkley kept Penn State within striking distance in the most difficult games. He rushed for 194 yards against a stout Ohio State defense, then had 120 and a couple touchdowns against Northwestern as well as 103 on just 17 carries against Michigan State. Barkley had to battle against a Georgia defense focused on him, but he still was a key to the offense, gaining 69 yards on 17 carries.

The issue with the running backs is, Barkley was really the only one who was present in the second half of the season, which is amazing considering how many of them contributed in the first half. The offense was at its best in the three weeks after the Temple game, when Barkley and Akeel Lynch combined for 556 yards on 80 carries. But both got hurt against San Diego State, and Lynch had just six carries in the final seven games. Over the last seven games, running backs other than Barkley had just 15 carries. Sure, Penn State wanted to feature its best player, but it may have counted on him too much.

GRADE: B-

RECEIVERS

There wasn’t a more consistent receiver in the Big Ten than

Chris Godwin, who came into the season with plenty of hype and lived up to it. He had 69 catches for 1,101 yards and six touchdowns. His cohort, sophomore DaeSean Hamilton, came on strong as the season progressed, topping the 50-yard receiving mark in five of his last six games, which isn’t a bad outcome for a receiver who was the clear No. 2.

Yet, for as much talent as Penn State has at receiver, it had difficulty finding a consistent third guy. Sure, Wyoming Valley West product Eugene Lewis became that guy after his eventual game-winning touchdown catch against Maryland forced the coaching staff to find more ways to get him on the field. But on most occasions outside of the red zone, he was the clear third option.

So much was made in the preseason about the speed Brandon Polk and DeAndre Thompkins brought to the offense, but they were almost laughably absent from the passing game. Polk had six catches, Thompkins had three and, combined, they averaged just 10 yards per catch, hardly making them big-play threats. They were more running backs, considering they were used more often on jet sweeps.

GRADE: B

TIGHT ENDS

It might not be possible to find a position group anywhere in the Big Ten that performed as poorly as Penn State’s tight ends. In the spring, Franklin said that they were merely bigger receivers who needed to block better if they wanted to stay on the field. Well, they did not block better.

Junior

Brent Wilkerson, the No. 3 tight end on the depth chart in the spring, became the starter because he developed into at least an OK blocker by midseason. But sophomore Mike Gesicki, a freakish athlete was neither a good enough blocker to be on the field consistently or, as it turned out, a good enough pass catcher. He finished the season with 13 catches, but he dropped far too many open throws and partly due to injury, he was not a factor by November.

Penn State also got relatively little out of senior Kyle Carter, who was a freshman All-American under Bill O’Brien. But outside of the San Diego State and Indiana games, when he had three catches in each, he had just eight catches the rest of the season. By midseason, Franklin stood by his word. Not helping run block or pass protect or enhance the passing game, the coaching staff often pulled the tight ends off the field and went with an extra receiver.

GRADE: D

OFFENSIVE LINE

The line that struggled so badly in 2014, allowing 44 sacks of Hackenberg, largely came back for a second try in 2015 and wasn’t much better.

Lions quarterbacks were sacked 39 times — 10 in that stunning loss to Temple that set the tone for the year. The new addition to the group, left tackle Paris Palmer, looked both skinny and slow for much of the season, and the communication issues Franklin talked a lot about early in the season seemed to center around him.

Center/guard Angelo Mangiro was the clear standout of the group, as he moved interchangeably from center to guard when injuries ravaged the group, especially when RT Andrew Nelson battled fairly constant knee issues.

The real issue up front seemed to be the guards, sophomore Brendan Mahon and former defensive linemen Brian Gaia and Derek Dowrey.

There was just no consistency and it was fairly predictable that any team with a good set of defensive tackles would be able to give Penn State’s offense plenty of problems.

GRADE: D+

DEFENSIVE LINE

There is no doubt this was the heart and soul of the team, and it had a claim as a top-10 front four in all of college football.

A former walk-on who entered the season with 19 career tackles and just two sacks, DE

Carl Nassib won the Lombardi Award, Hendricks Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy after leading the nation with 19½ sacks and six forced fumbles despite missing all but four plays of the last two regular season games with a leg injury. It sure did help him that the two defensive tackles required so much attention as well.

He didn’t match his gaudy numbers from 2014 because he received plenty of extra attention, but DT Anthony Zettel was still a productive player. That said, Austin Johnson had one of the better statistical seasons for a Penn State defensive tackle in recent memory. He finished third on the team with 78 tackles, and he added 6½ sacks and 15 tackles for loss. The other defensive end, sophomore Garrett Sickels, looks like he can become a dominant player. The Lions also got some good backup work from ends Torrence Brown and Evan Schwann, along with tackles Parker Cothren and Tarow Barney.

GRADE: A-

LINEBACKERS

If on Sept. 1, it was known

Nyeem Wartman-White would finish the season with two tackles, it would have been a clear indication Penn State would not be able to maximize its win potential. But once the former Valley View standout’s knee injury occurred in the second quarter of the opener against Temple, it was clear Penn State would need to rebuild fast at linebacker. To its credit, it wasn’t all bad here considering how many changes had to be made just to survive.

Sophomore Jason Cabinda, in his first season as a starter, had to assume the complicated middle linebacker role, calling out the defenses and serving as a de facto leader. He did it was well as anyone could reasonably have expected, leading the team with 100½ tackles. Redshirt freshman Troy Reeder, expected to be a top backup, instead wound up starting 11 games and garnering 65 tackles, but he struggled at times simply being in the right spot — again, understandable considering where he was expected to be in his development.

Penn State’s best linebacker was Brandon Bell, but he battled injuries and wasn’t on the field as much as he needed to be to be a star. He still managed 5½ sacks and 12½ tackles for loss.

All in all, Penn State got what it could have expected without Wartman-White’s leadership and productivity: sometimes great play, and sometimes so-so play, from a group not expected to be very deep from the start.

GRADE: B-

SECONDARY

This is one spot where it was easy to expect better. This was a solid, sometimes dynamic, group by the end of 2014, but it played to its relative age as 2015 advanced — especially after safety

Jordan Lucas went down for the season with a shoulder injury, and talented sophomore CB Christian Campbell was sidelined the better part of the second half due to injury.

Corner Trevor Williams was steady, as was Lucas when he was in the lineup. But this is a position that relied plenty on youngsters, who proved to be a mixed bag. Freshman John Reid was a good cover guy who intercepted two passes, but he struggled tackling in open space. Sophomore Grant Haley had the opposite problem, proving to be a sound tackler who couldn’t prevent a number of big plays in the pass game this year, most notable a third-and-long late in the Northwestern game that propelled the Wildcats to a comeback win.

The most inconsistent player in the secondary, though, was safety Marcus Allen, who seemed to be out of position a surprising amount for a player who looked so strong in the second half of 2014. He finished second on the team with 81 tackles, but he was also more effective against the run.

GRADE: C

SPECIAL TEAMS

Statistically, the kicking game was OK. Even hefty redshirt freshman

Joey Julius, who was a big story in the first half before losing his job after some poor kickoffs and missed extra points, only missed two of his 12 field goal attempts — and none from inside 40. But his backup, sophomore Tyler Davis, looks like a viable option as placekicker down the road. Although he didn’t attempt a kick longer than 42 yards, he hit on all eight of his attempts. Plenty of teams in the Big Ten would have signed up for 18 for 20 on field goals.

The real issues here came in the punting game and on kick and punt coverage, which led to some disastrous moments. Chris Gulla had some good moments punting against Rutgers, but he wasn’t very good after that. Sophomore Daniel Pasquariello has a good leg but still averaged just 39.3 yards per punt.

Coverage units were terrific at times but unsteady at far too many others, allowing two long kick returns for touchdowns. The one against Northwestern cost them a game, and there were several other instances in which they prevented a touchdown but saw the field position battle swing the other way because of a long return.

GRADE: D+

COACHING

It’s so difficult to judge the effect of coaching on individual games, because game plans change and the quality of opponents have so much to do with the goings-on, especially when Penn State isn’t exactly as deep or gifted all around as it has been in the past. But looking back on it, you can get a better picture of areas where a team improved or didn’t, and that says a lot about coaching.

Quarterbacks coach

Ricky Rahne deserves some credit for helping Hackenberg become a better game manager after his awful 2014, and Josh Gattis found a way to make Godwin and Hamilton complimentary parts. Linebackers coach Brent Pry and even Herb Hand, the embattled offensive line coach, should be roundly credited for getting the most out of their groups when key players went down.

But all in all, there were some play calls from now-fired offensive coordinator John Donovan that deserved second-guessing, and it’s fair to question the coaches when mental mistakes and a lack of overall improvement in certain areas — namely the offensive line — continued to so negatively hold the team back.

Bottom line is, James Franklin and his staff need to do a better job cleaning some things up. They didn’t get the worst result they could have from a season that started so badly. But this wasn’t the best Penn State could have been, either.

GRADE: C-

Immaculata

Abigail Kauffman, a family and consumer sciences major with a concentration in secondary education and a minor in product development at Immaculata University, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 3.84 GPA.

A 2013 graduate of Minersville Area High School, she is a daughter of David and Lisa Kauffman, Minersville.

Kianna Fiscus, a doctoral student in Immaculata University’s Psy.D Clinical Psychology program, received a 4.0 GPA for the fall semester.

She is a 2015 graduate of Millersville University, a 2011 graduate of Pottsville Area High School and a daughter of Tracey Ashman and a granddaughter of Roy and Erlene Ashman, Pottsville.

Mansfield

Kelsey Hurst, a sophomore majoring in music education at Mansfield University, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 3.9 GPA.

A 2014 graduate of Marian High School, she is a daughter of Jack and Debbi Hurst, Barnesville, and a granddaughter of Suzanne Hurst, Barnesville, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Naradko, Pottsville.

Lock Haven

Samantha Graeff, a psychology major at Lock Haven University, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 3.62 GPA.

She is a daughter of John and Karen Graeff, Newtown.

IUP

Jillian L. Wagner, Schuylkill Haven, a senior nutrition and dietetics major, made the dean’s list at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for the fall semester.

She is a 2012 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School and a daughter of Sharon Wagner, Schuylkill Haven, and Jeff Wagner, Hometown.

Katie Fessler, a senior majoring in fashion merchandising with a minor in marketing, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s College of Health and Human Services.

She is a daughter of Mike and Jackie Fessler and a granddaughter of Guy and Janet Fessler, all of Summit Station area.

Penn College

John Graeff, majoring in HVAC at Pennsylvania College of Technology, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 3.82 GPA.

He is a daughter of John and Karen Graeff, Newtown.

Emily S. Mistishen, New Ringgold, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Pennsylvania College of Technology with a 4.0 GPA.

She is a daughter of Joe and Mary Mistishen.

Penn State

Sarah Simatos, a junior psychology major at Penn State Schuylkill campus, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 3.93 GPA.

She is a daughter of James and Susan Simatos, Mechanicsville.

Michael Vinitski, Pottsville, a junior administration of justice major at Penn State Schuylkill, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 3.95 GPA.

He is a son of Fran and Pauline Vinitski.

Abby Lescavage, a senior studying rehabilitation and human services at Penn State University, University Park campus, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester.

She is a 2012 graduate of Minersville Area High School and a daughter of Steven and Heidi Lescavage, Primrose, and a granddaughter of Stan and Peg Wapinski, Saint Clair.

Molly Zwiebel, Pottsville, a junior psychology and hum-an development and family studies major at Penn State University, University Park campus, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 4.0 GPA.

A 2013 Pottsville Area High School graduate, she is a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Zwiebel and a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Zwiebel.

Gerardo Talamantes Jr., a junior mechanical engineering major in the Capital College Honors Program at Penn State Harrisburg campus, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 3.95 GPA.

A 2013 Pottsville Area High School graduate, he is a son of Gerardo Talamantes Sr. and Diane Bender, Saint Clair.

Wake Forest

Emily Bartosic, Madison, Connecticut, a granddaughter of Frank Bartosic, Schuylkill Haven, and Margaret Peletsky, Pottsville, made the dean’s list at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for the fall semester.

American

Kirsten N. Bickelman, a junior international relations major at American University, Washington, D.C., made the dean’s list with a 4.0 GPA.

She is studying in Madrid, Spain, for the spring semester.

She is a daughter of John and Diane Bickelman, Schuylkill Haven, and a 2013 Blue Mountain High School graduate.

Misericordia

Mitchell J. Haney, a sophomore at Misericordia University, Dallas, Luzerne County, made the dean’s list for the fall semester. He is majoring in biology/chemistry while pursuing his doctorate in physical therapy.

A 2014 Minersville Area High School graduate, he is a son of Glenn and Marybeth Haney and a grandson of Jo-seph Baruka, all of Minersville.

Clarion

Danielle Savitsky, Frackville, a senior enrolled in the Clarion University honors program with a major in speech language pathology, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 4.0 GPA.

A 2012 graduate of Nativity BVM High School, she is a daughter of Robert and Asseneth Savitsky, Frackville.

Bridget Holohan, a senior speech language pathology and audiology major at Clarion University, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 4.0 GPA.

A 2012 graduate of Nativity BVM High School, she is a daughter of Donald and Toni Holohan, Orwigsburg.

The following area students also made the fall dean’s list at Clarion: Lauren Bender-Stringham, Michael Ferguson and Monica Miller, all of Schuylkill Haven.

Villanova

Joshua Howard, a junior civil engineering major at Villanova University, made the dean’s list for the fall semester.

A 2013 graduate of North Schuylkill High School, he is a son of Judy and Mike Howard, Frackville.

Wyo. Seminary

Ryan Guers, a senior and a son of Steven and Michelle Guers, Orwigsburg, and Jake Hendricks, a sophomore and a son of Glen and Jennifer Hendricks, New Ringgold, made the dean’s list with high honors for the fall academic term at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School, Kingston.

East Stroudsburg

Johnna Cappel, Frackville, a senior speech language pathology major at East Stroudsburg University, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 3.93 GPA.

A 2012 graduate of North Schuylkill High School, she is a daughter of Brian and Gina Cappel, Frackville.

Bloomsburg

Brandon McCloskey, a senior majoring in speech pathology/audiology, attained dean’s list for the fall semester at Bloomsburg University with a 3.83 GPA.

A 2012 graduate of North Schuylkill High School, he is a son of Ron and Nancy McCloskey, Frackville.

Alfred

Lauren I. Brilla, Pottsville, a senior communication studies major, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Alfred University, Alfred, New York.

She is a graduate of Pottsville Area High School.

King’s

The following area students made the dean’s list at Kings’s College, Wilkes-Barre, for the fall semester: Lyle Luckenbill and Rebecca Johnson, both of Pottsville; Angela Cazonie, Minersville; Hayley Hammer, Shenandoah; Zachary Motil, Zion Grove; Thomas Hagenbuch, Delano; Bret Ruch, Lykens.

Capitol Tech

Ben Serano, an astronautical engineering major at Capitol Technology University, Laurel, Maryland, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 4.0 GPA.

A 2014 Pottsville Area High School graduate, Ben is a son of Bonnie and Joseph Serano Jr., Middleport, and a grandson of Patricia and Joseph Serano Sr., Mahanoy City, and Anna Mae, Middleport, and the late Paul Stephens.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and Pottsville police are asking for the public’s help in finding those responsible for a burglary that occurred in the city last month.

Police said the burglary occurred between 3 p.m. Dec. 23 and 10:45 a.m. Dec. 24 at a home at 9 N. Seventh St.

Police said Mark Wizak, 48, of Pottsville, reported he was remodeling the home when someone entered and stole a Bosch impact drill as well as several knives and a tape measure.

Police said the investigation revealed that the thief or thieves entered the home through a locked kitchen window.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on the identity of those responsible for this crime or on any unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to incident 01-10-16 when calling with information about the burglary in Pottsville. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 877-TIPS4SC (877-847-7472) or the Pottsville police directly at 570-622-1234.

All information will remain confidential.

TAMAQUA — State Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, announced Wednesday that he will seek re-election to the House of Representatives.

“Since my election, I have proudly fought to protect the tax dollars of the hard-working residents and retired seniors of the 124th District,” Knowles said in a press release. “Pennsylvania does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Now more than ever, with Governor Wolf unwilling to give up his plans for record high tax increases, I need to return to the state Capitol to keep up this fight.”

During his tenure, the Tamaqua Republican said he has helped defeat a 16 percent personal income tax hike and cut more than $1 billion in wasteful spending from the state budget. Over the past year, Knowles said he has been opposed to Wolf’s massive tax and spending proposal — a proposal, he said, includes a tax increase amount higher than all other 49 states combined saw in 2015.

“The people of Berks, Carbon and Schuylkill counties have told me in no uncertain terms that now is not the time for broad-based tax increases, it is the time for responsible fiscal leadership that doesn’t increase their burden,” Knowles said.

“They cannot afford to pay more in taxes, and I will continue working to make sure they don’t.”

Knowles said his number one legislative priority continues to be Senate Bill/House Bill 76. The legislation will eliminate the failed property tax system that hurts local schools, homeowners and senior citizens, Knowles said.

“I will continue to push other legislators to support school property tax elimination,” Knowles said.

In addition to his various committee assignments, Knowles was also recently elected vice chairman of the bipartisan, bicameral Government Reform Caucus that focuses on reducing the size and scope of government to save taxpayers money and institute commonsense reforms.

A former proprietor of a successful retail grocery store in Tamaqua, Knowles also was a full-time police officer. He was originally elected to the state House in a 2009 special election to fill the seat vacated by Sen. David Argall, R-29. He is married to the former Lorraine David, McAdoo, for 42 years. They have two sons and two grandsons.

HARRISBURG — Schuylkill County potato producers were among agriculture industry representatives who met face-to-face with Gov. Tom Wolf on Saturday during the opening day of the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Nancy T. Schlegel, director of food safety for Sterman Masser Inc., Sacramento, and Michelle Rumbel, office manager of Huntsinger Farms Inc., Hegins, were volunteers at one of the new displays at this year’s show called “Farm To Shelf.” Wolf stopped at the Farm To Shelf exhibit at 9 a.m., before conducting the show’s official opening ceremony at 10 a.m. in the Large Arena.

Joining Wolf at the exhibit was Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, and a fleet of reporters, who followed the pair throughout the Weis Exhibition Hall.

“I feel that he’s (Wolf) interested in the industry as a whole and asked good questions,” Schlegel, Lykens, said following the governor’s stop. “I hope he understands how many people are employed, from the farm, to the processing, to the restaurants, and that agriculture’s an important industry in Pennsylvania.”

“I hope that he sees that funding for agriculture and ag education needs to remain,” Schlegel said.

Rumbel said it’s important for political leaders to know the local producers who are feeding their neighbors. She also thought the farm show was a perfect venue to explain the investment and labor producers have placed in their businesses.

“I’m afraid we’re going to lose the family farms. I think him being here shows a commitment,” said Rumbel, who also operates Rumbel’s Roadside Stand and Cider House with her husband, John, in Ringtown.

Schlegel’s first opportunity to meet the governor, she said, was on Friday when she attended a PA Preferred reception at the farm show complex, upper-level dinning room. At the time, Schlegel said the governor spoke to her briefly, and she answered his questions about the different potato varieties that are used for potato chips.

During Saturday’s visit, he greeted Schlegel with a handshake before examining equipment at the potato display.

“He asked about the tractor and planter costs, and asked how potatoes were planted,” Schlegel said.

Moving through the potato display, Wolf saw potatoes already packaged with foil wrapping called “Grillables.” He asked why someone just couldn’t do that sort of wrapping on their own.

“I explained it’s all about convenience these days,” Schlegel said.

The governor asked Rumbel how you determine what potato is best for cooking, baking or mashing. Rumbel said she encouraged him to try round, white potato varieties, especially for mashing.

In conjunction with Weis Markets, the Farm to Shelf exhibit featured four key Pennsylvania commodities — apples, pork, dairy and potatoes. Each commodity had a 30-by-40-foot pod where growers and producers will be teaching farm show attendees about their commodity and the story of how it gets from the farm to the grocery store shelf.

Schlegel coordinated the potato pod portion, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers. This portion of the display was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers, Sterman Masser Inc. and Keystone Potato Products Inc. Schlegel also asked Huntsinger Farms Inc. to help staff the booth. Schlegel said her mother-in-law, Muneen Jury, Lykens, who formerly operated Red’s Greenhouse, had a “creative hand” in setting up the potato display.

Roger Springer, general manager of the Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers, helped design one of the elements in the display, showing how the potatoes grow during the plant’s life cycle. Visitors could see the plant — above and below ground — at the soil level, with the seed potato and the edible tubers.

“This is a great opportunity to promote and market potatoes,” Springer, Harrisburg, said. “Pennsylvania potatoes have a distinct taste. Our soils do make a difference.”

Springer said he was happy his idea to launch a cinnamon potato doughnut this year at the cooperative’s food stand was a hit.

Redding attended a media ribbon-cutting, launching the Farm To Shelf exhibit Friday.

“This display is a partnership between the department, Weis and some of the state’s leading commodity sectors,” Redding said, according to a farm show press release. “With more people further and further removed from agriculture, we too often take for granted the food on our plates. We don’t give a lot of thought to all of the hard work by so many people to move that food from the field or the farm to the table. This display is about illustrating the tremendous investment producers make 365 days to ensure a safe, reliable food source for Pennsylvania consumers, as well as those beyond the state’s borders and around the world.”

“We are proud to be a part of the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show. Our Farm To Shelf exhibit highlights our commitment to buying local in our home state of Pennsylvania where we purchase virtually all of our milk and more than 25 million pounds of local produce,” Dennis Curtin, Weis Markets director of public relations, said.

Hazel Kramer said she and her husband, Kenneth, traveled from Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, on Saturday to get to the farm show early. They like to sample the food court, she said, and try to arrive early to beat any long lines.

“I already had my cinnamon potato doughnut,” Kramer said shortly before 9 a.m. She stopped by the potato pod, and she said she enjoys snacking on potatoes after popping them into the microwave.

Tamara Hoffman, Windber, browsed the potato pod with her son, Emory Koehler, 6.

“My dad brought me to the farm show when I was his age,” Hoffman said. “I had a cinnamon potato doughnut, and I’m set.”

Emory asked Schlegel about how many seed potatoes fit into a planter, as he stared up at the tall Harriston 4-row potato planter on display.

Meanwhile, the dairy portion of the display showed how fresh milk gets from the dairy cow to consumers. The exhibit was sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, PA Dairymen’s Association and the Center for Dairy Excellence.

The Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council and PennAg Industries Association sponsored the pork portion of the pod with an interactive display, which included a sow and her litter of piglets.

The apple pod was designed to educate the public about the various outlets for apples, from the orchard to the retailer. This portion of the display was sponsored by the PA Apple Marketing Board, Knouse Foods Cooperative and Penn State Extension, Adams County.

Although he wasn’t in the apple pod, Hegins apple producer Andrew Schwalm, with Schwalm Farms, volunteered Saturday at the Young Growers Alliance booth near the Main Hall. He was selling cider and apples, and answering visitors’ questions.

“A lot of people know the old standards, but we’re introducing them to some of the newer varieties, like Gala, Honeycrisp and Pink Lady. Some people had questions about growing apples in their backyard, while others wanted to know why varieties they could buy as a kid, they can’t find anymore,” Schwalm said. Schwalm Farms raises 50 acres of apples and other fruits, with Gala and Honeycrisp among their top sellers.

Elsewhere, farm show participants worked serving refreshments or tending to their livestock.

Kim Morgan, Pine Grove, a co-leader with the Blue Mountain 4-H Livestock Club, had a group of four students prepping their crossbred lambs. The students had attended a seminar Friday night and were using some of the skills they had learned Saturday as they groomed their market animals. Among the 4-H members attending and competing in this year’s show are sisters, Sara Strouse, 12, and Stefanie Strouse, 14, both of Auburn; Casmira Keller, 12, of Orwigsburg; and Collin Felty, 12, of Schuylkill Haven.

Keller said this was her second year showing at the farm show venue. Last year, she showed a goat.

“I’m not that nervous out there. I get into the ring and just do what I need to do,” Keller said.

Luke Mease, 9, a member of the Schuylkill Stampede Livestock Club, was showing livestock for the first time at this year’s farm show. On Saturday, he was tending to his male Boer goat and female Yorkshire purebred pig. He’s the son of Mike and Tabitha Mease, Pine Grove. Luke’s brother, John, 14, who’s a member of Pine Grove’s FFA, was also scheduled to show a pig and lamb. John volunteered at the PA Livestock Food Stand on Saturday. Luke said he’s also competed at the Gratz Fair and Schuylkill County Fair.

“I’ve got to feed and water them and work with them, so I can make them stand still,” Luke said about his livestock upkeep.

The farm show’s also an opportunity for legislative leaders to meet with agriculture producers to determine what laws may be of interest to their constituents.

U.S. Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, of the 5th congressional district, and his wife, Penny, stopped by the PA Vegetable Growers Association food stand Saturday to speak with Barron “Boots” Hetherington and his wife, Robin, of B&R Farms, Ringtown.

Thompson, who chairs the house subcommittee on conservation and forestry, said he tries to attend the farm show every year, not only because agriculture is Pennsylvania’s number one industry, but because he has an opportunity to speak with farmers and ranchers directly.

“We want to find out if the 2013 Farm Bill is serving their needs,” Thompson said. “I also like to ‘graze’ the food court.”

Thompson was sponsoring a Congressional Listening Session from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the farm show, which Hetherington was planning to attend.

Hetherington said he was hoping the session would address concerns involving water pollution and the Chesapeake Bay, and the EPA’s efforts to regulate producers.

Hetherington said he realizes the need to keep the Chesapeake water clean, but has fears efforts may be too restrictive.

“Our fear is if we go so stringent, we’ll drive livestock producers out of Pennsylvania; and what about my use of irrigation water? The EPA is pushing, perhaps, over-reaching. We can’t become too vigilant. There has to be a balance,” said Hetherington, noting his 400-acre vegetable and strawberry farm uses no-till techniques to cut down on erosion. “We’re lucky to have a congressman from Pennsylvania on the ag committee. He’s such a champion for us.”

The 100th PA Farm Show, themed “Our Commonwealth’s Blue Ribbon Experience,” runs through Jan. 16.

n Frackville: The Frackville Ministerium Food Bank will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. Jan. 21 to serve eligible residents of the borough. New applicants will need proof of eligibility — a Frackville borough address. The food bank is at Zion Lutheran Church, 48 S. Nice St. People use the downstairs entrance by the parking lot on South Beech Street. For more information, call 570-874-0255.

n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy Area United Veterans Parade Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at American Legion Post 74. New members are welcome to attend to help plan veterans’ memorials during the upcoming year.

n Pottsville: Schuylkill County’s Parent Support Network meets once a month in Pottsville and Mahanoy City. The goal of the group, according to a release, is to help parents “make supportive connections with each other and develop a caring, concerned and safe network dedicated to understanding and caring for their needs as well as their child’s.” The network meets at 10 a.m. every fourth Thursday of the month at Life Center Foursquare Church, 2300 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, and at 6:30 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month at Zion Baptist Church, 400 E. Market St., Mahanoy City. For more information, call Kathy Quick at 570-621-2890, Ext. 109, or Christine Wiekrykas at 570-728-5472.

n Pottsville: At a recent Pottsville Lions Club dinner meeting, Amy Burkhart, the former executive director of the Pottsville Area Development Corp., spoke to club members about the varied PADCO activities and its vision for the future of the area. Afterward, club members bid Burkhart, who has accepted another position, farewell and thanked her for her service in promoting the greater Pottsville area. Lions Club President Cathy Lintner-Wolfe said Burkhart “played a significant role in building our business and economic community through her efforts (and) … her love and dedication for our area. She was one special leader and we will miss her and her positive role model.”

n Pottsville: Theresa Santai-Gaffney, Schuylkill County register of wills and clerk of the orphans’ court, released the following report for December: Estates processed, 67; marriage licenses issued, 30; adoptions completed, 4; inheritance tax remitted to the commonwealth, $685,145.54; county fees collected, $21,090.

n Reading: Hindus have welcomed the launching of the interfaith “Prayer and Reflection Room” at the “distinctive Franciscan” Alvernia University, according to a press release. Alvernia also has a Schuylkill County center located in the Cressona Mall, Route 61. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed said in the release that an interfaith “intimate space” provided by the PARR is a positive step for Alvernia for quiet reflection and spiritual exercise. Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said he hopes the PARR will help students to have a spiritually meaningful life in addition to material success after they graduate from the university. He also said the interfaith dialogue resulting from gatherings at PARR will make Alvernia students “well-nurtured, well-balanced and enlightened citizens of tomorrow” and it makes “good business sense to know the beliefs of ‘others’ in a global community.” Zed urged Alvernia President Thomas F. Flynn to provide resources and objects about Hinduism in the room and organize Hindu prayer sessions at regular intervals. Alvernia, according to the release, was founded in 1958 by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters and is guided by Franciscan values and rooted in the Catholic traditions.

n Tamaqua: A Mo Devlin frozen photography artist meet-and-greet is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St. Devlin, a 1973 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, will showcase his “frozen art” photography. To buy tickets in advance, call 570-668-1192.

Comcast bills have gone up.

The increasing costs were effective Dec. 20, unless otherwise noted.

“We continue to make investments in our network and technology to give customers more for their money — like faster Internet service and more WiFi hotspots, more video across viewing screens, better technology like X1 and a better customer experience,” Bob Grove, vice president of public relations for Comcast, said. “Unfortunately, the cost to deliver programming continues to increase significantly, especially broadcast television and sports programming, which are the largest drivers of increases in price adjustments. On average, nationally the customer bill will increase by 3.9 percent in 2016.”

For cable service, the broadcast TV fee is increasing 54 percent from $3.25 to $5. Customers with limited basic service will see an 89-cent price increase to $16.99. The regional sports fee will increase $2 a month, amounting to $3. Some installation fees also will increase.

Those with Internet service could see an up to $4 increase, Grove said. Subscribers of Extreme 505 will see a decrease from $399 a month to $299.

Comcast is offering improved services at no cost, such as 34 WiFi hotspots in Schuylkill County in Pottsville, Pine Grove, Schuylkill Haven, Cressona, Minersville and other locations. Access is free for Comcast customers on the go and up to two hours a month are free to non-customers.

“In Pottsville, this includes nine access points along West Market Street, three each along Mauch Chunk Street and Norwegian Street and two each on South Center Street and Peacock Street. All were installed in the past nine months,” Grove said.

Another no-cost service for Comcast customers is the Cloud DVR service, which was launched in Pottsville in 2015. The service allows X1 customers to use an in-home WiFi network to view the TV lineup on any device while at home or access and store DVR recordings on a mobile device.

For Internet improvements, customers of Blast! had an increase in Internet speeds from 105 to 150 Mbps starting in July. Triple Play customers saw an Internet speed increase from 25 to 75 Mbps, Grove said.

RINGTOWN — Ringtown Boy Scout Troop 731 gave back by taking away.

About a dozen Boy Scouts gathered at 1 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church to begin their annual Christmas tree pickup throughout Ringtown.

Residents notified the troop if they wanted their trees to be collected, and left their already “undecorated” trees outside of their homes.

“It’s something we do every year and the people look for us,” Senior Patrol Leader Everett Fritz said.

“It’s a good way for us to give back to the community. They help us out with all of our fundraisers throughout the year. We have baked good sales, and food stands at some of the local festivals and they help support us in whatever we’re trying to do,” Fritz, 15, of Brandonville, said.

This year, the troop is trying to raise money for a trip to Washington, D.C.

Citizens who have their trees collected often give the troop a donation for its efforts.

Scoutmaster Charles Faust said there are about 22 boys in the troop this year, and the tree collection has been a tradition for decades.

“We’ve been doing this since I was in scouts, for at least 20 years or so,” Faust said.

The trees will be taken nearby to Zion’s Grove to be used in a wooded area for animal habitat, according to Faust.

While some scouts and adult supervisors stuck to collecting on neighborhoods near St. John’s Lutheran Church, on Main Street, others ventured a bit farther, to outlying homes.

Assistant Scoutmaster David Zienkiewicz, 18, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Jadyn Anczarski, 17, both of Ringtown, teamed up and began making collections, driving onto country roads. Their first stop was at Rumbel’s Roadside Stand and Cider House, where they promptly gathered an evergreen and hopped back into their pickup truck to search for more. Along the way, scouts also collect donations for their troop.

Zienkiewicz said he’s been involved with scouting for 12 years, and is a freshman secondary eduction major at Bloomsburg University.

Anczarski, a senior at North Schuylkill High School, is also an Eagle Scout.

“I’ve been helping out every year, since I was about 11 years old,” Anczarski said. “I’m planning on picking up a tree from my history teacher,” he said.

Troop Guide Adam Isgate, 17, of Ringtown, said he’s assisted almost every year.

“You see in our town there are a lot of elderly people who need our help. We go out there and help them, and get donations, too,” Isgate, 17, of Ringtown, said.

Fellow scouts Matthew Teter and Zachary Piampi, both 12 and from Ringtown, helped fill a large truck with the evergreens, as Faust guided them with the collections along Main Street. John David Rumbel, Ringtown, volunteered to drive the collection truck.

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The Butler Township supervisors held their reorganization meeting for 2016 on Jan. 4 that included most appointments remaining the same as in 2015.

The board of supervisors retained David Kessler for the seventh time as its chairman, with Paul J. Fetterolf re-elected as vice chairman. The third supervisor is Robert “Bob” Burns.

Fetterolf ran unopposed in the General Election to win re-election.

The status quo was held with the reappointment of Fetterolf as treasurer at a rate of $250 per month. Kessler was reappointed as roadmaster at $500 per month.

The following appointments and reappointments were made:

• Secretary/assistant treasurer: Kate Staudenmeier.

• Township solicitor: Christopher Riedlinger at $100 per hour. Riedlinger was also retained as planning commission solicitor at $100 per hour. The supervisors also retained the law offices of Siana, Bellwoar and McAndrew LLP, as counsel for the township as needed.

• Zoning hearing board solicitor: Brian Urban at $100 per hour. Urban will recuse himself from any windmill issues.

• Vacancy board chairman: Francis Lally.

• The supervisors appointed Jones and Co. to perform the 2015 township audit in lieu of the township auditors.

• Sewage enforcement officer: David Siminitis of the Larson Design Group. Alternate SEO is William Anders of Lehigh Engineering LLC.

• Forestry consultant: Joseph Brackman.

• Bank depository: BB&T Banks, Ashland.

• Meetings, grant programs (HOME and CDBG) and other legal advertising will be published in The Republican-Herald in 2016.

• Emergency management officer: Mark Cuttic. Alternate EMO is Michael Kehler.

• Zoning and code enforcement officer: William Anders.

• Uniform Construction Code inspector: Glenn Everet.

• Consulting engineering firm: Lehigh Engineering LLC, Pottsville.

• Fire marshal: Mark Cuttic at a rate of $25 per month.

• Mutual aid contracts were renewed with Rangers Hose Company and Girard Hose Company, both of Girardville, at $500 each.

• Planning commission recording secretary: Lorraine Reese at $20 per meeting.

• Zoning hearing board secretary: Reese at $20 per hearing.

• Police Chief Edward Tarantelli was reappointed as chief administrative officer of the police pension fund. If Tarantelli is not available, the duties will be performed by Lt. Daniel Holderman.

• Staudenmeier was reappointed as chief administrative officer of the non-uniform pension fund. If Staudenmeier is unavailable, Dale Bolich will perform those duties.

• Renewal of $100,000 bond for treasurer.

• Allow township employees to attend the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors convention in 2016 in accordance with Section 1402 of the township code and to reimburse them for approved expenses.

Grant Coordinators: Prodesign Plus LLC, Shamokin, and Schuylkill County as grant coordinators for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs.

• Environmental certifying officer: David Kessler. In the same motion, Kessler was also authorized to sign all CDBG and HOME applications and forms.

• The following paid holidays were approved for non-unionized employees (road crew and secretary): New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after, Christmas Day, employee’s birthday and six personal days.

• Any person who is not a resident of the township must give at least 48 hours notice and reason for request to be placed on the meeting agenda.

• Northern Schuylkill Council of Governments delegate: Fetterolf. Alternate delegate is Robert Burns.

• Schuylkill County Tax Collection Committee representative: Staudenmeier. Alternate is Fetterolf.

• Appointed Lisa Tarson and David Fey to the Butler Township Planning Commission for a four-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2019.

• Appointed Fetterolf to the Butler Township Municipal Authority for a five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2020. The supervisors tabled a decision to fill an open position on the municipal authority until a later date.

Regular monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month in the municipal building. Workshops are held at 6:45 p.m. prior to the regular meeting.

ORWIGSBURG — For more than three years, Blue Mountain School District has held a series of community information sessions, Frank A. Musitano, the district’s director of special education, said Thursday.

As the events became more popular for not only students but also the general public, the district decided to make them more diverse, Musitano said.

There are two more scheduled for this school year:

• “Technical Career Exploration,” a tour of Schuylkill Technology Center-South, Mar Lin, on Feb. 2. A bus will leave from Blue Mountain High School, 1076 W. Market St., Schuylkill Haven, at 7 p.m. Presenters will include Kurt Lynch, STC vocational director. To register, call 570-366-0515. The snow date is Feb. 9.

Usually adults and parents come to these public information sessions, but David Lafko, a member of the school board, believe more students would come out to the Feb. 2 event.

“At STC sessions, we’ll get more students, because they’re the ones who will be trying to understand what’s being offered up there and trying to convince their parents to let them go up,” Lafko said Thursday.

• “Lyme Disease, Summer Health and Fitness,” 7 p.m. April 13 at Blue Mountain High School. Presenters will include Dr. J. A. Garabedian, a physician based at King of Prussia, and Leah Zerbe, Pine Grove, a representative of FarmerFit Outdoor Group and Personal Training, Pine Grove.

“I pushed for that one,” Michelle Z. Vesay, a member of the school board, said Thursday, referring to the presentation on Lyme disease.

The number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the United States is about 300,000, according to the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It really impacts our area. It’s endemic in Pennsylvania. It’s in every single county. And I got an expert from King of Prussia to come out to give a talk. And I’m really hoping we get a nice crowd, at least 50,” Vesay said.

“We started offering these presentations back in the 2012-2013 school years. We offered four sessions that year. The idea came from our board members,” Musitano said.

He said Lafko and Moss were among those involved in the development.

“It really does develop from the board, the district and the parents who want to be involved. We start out with some ideas amongst ourselves, then we bring in some parents who have expressed interest,” Lafko said.

“We started talking about how we can reach out to the community, what kind of vehicle can we use in order to promote community involvement. We wanted to give folks information about things we were doing in our school district and do presentations on topics that would pique their interest,” Musitano said.

“And for each of these topics, there are groups of people who come together to get involved to set up the events,” Scott W. Reichert, a member of the school board, said Thursday.

Musitano said it’s important to note that these events are free to the public, and not just the Blue Mountain school community.

“We’re trying to encourage not only Blue Mountain students and parents to come out, but a broader base,” Lafko said.

In the 2012-13 school year, Blue Mountain held four, covering topics including “Blue Mountain Curriculum” and “Schuylkill Technology Centers, Blue Mountain Virtual Academy.” And there were two sessions on “Services for Special Needs,” Musitano said.

“In the first year, the attendance was between 10 and 15 people at one of the events,” Lafko said.

In the 2013-14 school year, Blue Mountain held four, covering topics like“What do you need to graduate?” and “Does your child use study skills or strategies that are helpful when doing homework or studying?” and “Stressed? Depressed? Are meltdowns common for your child?” and “What accommodations can help my child with a specific learning disability, spectrum disorder or sensory issues?”

In the second year, attendance was between 15 and 20 per event, Moss said.

“In year three, we did very well,” Musitano said.

In the 2014-15 school year, Blue Mountain held five events, covering topics including STC and Blue Mountain’s Virtual Academy, “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,” “Wellness and Nutrition” and two sessions on “Math in Focus” at two of its elementary schools.

The “Math in Focus” sessions were the most popular events in this series to date.

“Those were huge,” Lafko said.

“Blue Mountain had changed its math curriculum and it’s very different. And the parents were very distressed because they didn’t know how to handle the homework. So we had these workshops. And we had them in two locations because we anticipated a large turnout,” Mary Jo Moss, a member of the school board, said.

About 110 people showed up for the one held Nov. 5, 2014, at Blue Mountain Elementary East. About 100 turned up for the one held Nov. 18, 2014, at Blue Mountain Elementary West, Musitano said.

So far this school year, Blue Mountain has held two.

A total of 41 people showed up for one about “Building a college-ready student” on Oct. 13. Fifteen people came to one about “Power in Power School, APPS For Education, How To Buy Technology” held Nov. 17, Musitano said.

n Fountain Springs: The Pennsylvania Music Educators group will hold its annual district band concert at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 and 1:30 p.m. Jan. 30 in the auditorium at North Schuylkill High School. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

n Pine Grove: The Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association and Schuylkill Conservation District are again cooperating to sell quality seedlings. Tree seedlings, according to a press release from Patrick J. “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, environmental education coordinator with the conservation district, increase property value, enhance wildlife habitat, beautify the landscape, improve the environment and can provide a source of income. All proceeds from the sale will go to support Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, located just off Route 443 outside of Pine Grove. Nearly 375,000 tree seedlings have been sold in the past to benefit the beauty of Schuylkill County, McKinney said in the release. Offerings are available for small yards to large tracts of land. Evergreens offered include concolor fir, Norway spruce, Black Hills spruce, Austrian pine and American arborvitae. Hardwoods include red maple, red oak, tulip poplar, American cranberry, forsythia, winterberry and common lilac. Order forms can be downloaded at www.sweetarrowlake.com. For more information, email McKinney at porcupinepat@yahoo.com or call 570-622-4124, ext. 113. The deadline to order is April 6 or until supplies last. Pickups will be from 9 a.m. to noon April 30 at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park.

n Pottsville: Dog licenses for 2016 are due, according to a release from Linda Marchalk, Schuylkill County treasurer. State law requires that all dogs three months or older be licensed by Jan. 1. Failure to do so is a summary offense and a maximum fine of $300 for each unlicensed dog may be issued. “Not only is it a state law, but obtaining a license is a good way to ensure the safety of our pets,” Marchalk said in the release, adding, “If a dog is lost or stolen, a license can safely reunite them with the owner.” An annual license is $8.50 and a lifetime license is $51.50. If the dog is spayed or neutered, the annual fee is $6.50 while a lifetime license is $31.50. Discounts are available for senior citizens and people with disabilities. State dog wardens will soon begin canvassing communities, according to the release. Licenses are available at the Schuylkill County Treasurer’s Office or local dog agents. They are also available online at www.padoglicense.com. A list of 2016 dog agents and a downloadable application are available on the county website at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us under the Treasurer’s department. Fishing licenses are also available at the treasurer’s office. Annual licenses are valid from Dec. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2016. The cost for an annual individual adult license is $22.70. Annual senior citizens licenses are $11.70. Trout/salmon permits are $9.70. Multi-year licenses and fishing license buttons are also available for purchase.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., will have free story time from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m, Mondays through April beginning Jan. 18. It is for preschool children ages 3 to 5 and will include stories, songs and a craft plus free play. Siblings are welcome. Another library program is “Builders’ Bonanza,” to be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through April beginning Jan. 18. It is free and participants will make “all sorts of creations” with LEGOs, Goldieblox and other educational toys. It is for children ages 5-12. People must register at the library for both programs.

n Schuylkill Haven: St. James Episcopal Church, 100 Dock St., will hold a soup sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Assorted flavors will be available at $7 a quart and $3.50 a pint.

n Shenandoah: A basket auction to benefit the Shenandoah sesquicentennial celebration will be held March 6 in Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish’s St. Stephen Hall, Main and Oak streets. Doors will open at noon and the auction will begin at 2 p.m. There will be a shop-and-drop from 1 to 4 p.m. March 5. The hall is accessible to the handicapped. Tickets are $10 each and include one beverage and dessert.

They say no two snowflakes are alike.

At the 49th annual Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival Snowflake Fashion Show on Sunday, Snowflake Princess contestants shared their perspectives on life — and fashion — in a way that set them apart.

Becky Deatrich Devlin, the 2011 Winter Carnival Queen, served as emcee for the show held at the former Pottsville Club, 201 S. 26th St.

The audience got a glimpse of the 21 contestants, who included an exchange student from Brazil, a scuba diver and archery hunter, an aspiring vet who got two tortoises shipped through the mail and a contestant advocating diversity.

Contestants — all high school juniors — were judged on appearance, poise, personality, voice projection and clarity.

The Snowflake Princess candidates had attended a judges’ reception earlier in the day at the same venue, where they each met privately with the board of judges.

Serving as judges were Dr. Scott Fellows, Thomas Campion, Thomas Palamar, Deb Ferhat, Carol Seitzinger, Dr. Lois Wachter, Shelby Hostetter and Kelsey Fanelli. Mary Ella Hallick served as Snowflake Princess coordinator.

2015 Winter Carnival Queen Kelci Killian, Snowflake Princess Lucy Murray and Snowdrop Princess Madison Eroh addressed the crowd, sharing favorite moments of their year-ending reigns. Several former queens and princesses from the past five years were also in attendance too, joining the audience for a packed house, eager to cheer on their favorite Snowflake contestant. Murray introduced each candidate.

A few contestants spoke to the media downstairs, as they were preparing for the fashion show to begin.

Ana Ozorio, an exchange student from Rio, Brazil, wore her Nativity school uniform.

“Nativity’s given a lot of opportunity to us and I thought I should be proud of my school,” she said.

Ozorio, 17, currently resides in Cressona, and hopes to finish high school and college in the United States. She said she wants to go back to Brazil in the summer for the Olympics.

“They told me how many friends I’d make and how much fun I’d have. It’s been more than I expected and the girls are great,” Ozorio said of her carnival experience thus far.

Blue Mountain’s Sydney Allar wore camouflage gear and face paint and carried a bow.

“I wanted to bring something that most people aren’t going to bring,” Allar, 16, of Orwigsburg, said. “I like fishing and the outdoors and ‘muddying’ it up. I’m a real Skook chick.”

She’s also a scuba diver and helps run her school’s Trout in the Classroom program.

Kylee Clark, 16, of Hegins, wore vet technician scrubs and a stethoscope. Clark, a Tri-Valley junior, would like to attend veterinarian school near Philadelphia.

“I wanted to show the judges that all lives are important, whether it’s an animal or a person,” she said. When Devlin asked Clark about her pets she had at home, the audience laughed when Clark explained her tortoises were shipped in the mail with a heating pack to keep them warm.

Jessica “Jessie” Gunoskey, of Mahanoy Area, said she wanted to “embrace her body and wear something that she wouldn’t normally wear.” Gunoskey 16, of Barnesville, wore a body-hugging, vintage-style maroon dress.

“I want the judges to see that I’m willing to try new things,” she said.

Gunoskey said she started a Diversity Club as a way to address people’s fear about transphobia and homophobia, and was a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights advocate.

Many contestants shared a love of world travel, while some had an interest in medicine, social work, science, theater and finance.

Some of the unique attire they shared included Elina Cassidy, of Nativity, who donned a Japanese ceremonial outfit, representing her birth in Japan. Rachael Cataldo, of North Schuylkill, wore a rhinestone-studded gown, noting she was the “life of the party” and always “looked on the bright side of life.” Rebecca Sites, of Pottsville Area, wore a “little black dress” with a black blazer. She removed the blazer to reveal a bedazzling cut out, going from conservative to playful. Gena Williams, of North Schuylkill, sported a patriotic theme with a blue dress, red heels and white bag, eventually adding a baseball cap. Madalynne Schaeffer, of Schuylkill Haven Area, lit up the room when she walked in with a Disney-created red, fitted dress that actually had lights streaming around it, representing her love of dance and performance in Disney World.

Other Snowflake Princess contestants are: Samantha Gnall, Mahanoy Area; Rebecca Andruchek, Minersville Area; Jillian Mulin, Pottsville Area; Sarah Hasenauer, Schuylkill Haven Area; Eva Blankenhorn, Blue Mountain; Leah Eister, Minersville Area Area; Gabrielle Reinoehl, North Schuylkill; Madison Irwin, Schuylkill Haven; Heather Faust, Blue Mountain; Haley Obrzut, Mahanoy Area; Reiley Lonergan, Minersville Area; and Morgan Zimerofsky, Pottsville Area. Each district could have up to three contestants.

All contestants joined at the front of the stage for pictures at the conclusion of Sunday’s event.

Upcoming Winter Carnival events are:

• Snowflake Costume Fashion Show, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Boscov’s auditorium

• Snowdrop Fashion Show, 2 p.m. Jan. 16, Boscov’s auditorium

• Royal Tea, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Jan. 23, Yuengling Mansion, 501 Mahantongo St.

• Senior Princess Fashion Show, 7 p.m. Jan. 24, former Pottsville Club

• Yuengling Night, 9 p.m. Jan. 29, Humane Fire Company, Pottsville

• Snowdrop/Snowflake Coronation Pageant, 7 p.m. Jan. 30, Pottsville Area High School

• Senior Princess Coronation Pageant, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Pottsville Area High School

An Orwigsburg man violated his probation but will not have to return to prison, a Schuylkill County judge decided Wednesday.

Instead, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin sentenced Jeremy C. Hess, 29, to time served to six months in prison and granted him immediate parole after revoking his probation.

“If you want to have a life,” stop using drugs, Dolbin warned Hess.

Dolbin made his ruling after Barbara Boran, Orwigsburg, Hess’ mother, told him that Hess’ addiction has turned her family upside down and that her son needs supervision.

“He stopped showing up for days, went missing for days,” Boran said. “He needs to fix himself.”

Hess, who admitted violating his probation by failing to report to his supervising officer, possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia and failing drug tests, initially pleaded guilty on July 22, 2015, to possession of a controlled substance. At that time, Dolbin sentenced him to spend six months on probation and pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, all of which Hess still must pay under the terms of Wednesday’s sentence.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Hess with possessing drugs on Oct. 17, 2014, in Schuylkill Haven.

In another Wednesday case, Dolbin revoked the parole of Kyle R. Long, 27, of Frackville, and ordered him recommitted to prison, possibly until Oct. 8. He barred Long’s release on reparole until at least April 15 except to an inpatient rehabilitation facility.

Dolbin revoked Long’s parole after the defendant admitted violating it by failing to report to his supervising officer and not making payments on his costs and fines.

Long originally pleaded guilty on May 23, 2012, to burglary, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property. At the time, Dolbin sentenced Long to serve nine to 23 months in prison, pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Pottsville police alleged Long burgled a building on Sept. 28, 2011, in the city.

Also on Wednesday, Dolbin revoked the parole of Alexia A. Rodriguez, 26, of Schuylkill Haven, and returned her to prison.

He ordered Rodriguez to undergo drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, and ruled she cannot apply for reparole until she completes them.

Rodriguez originally pleaded guilty on June 18, 2014, to simple assault. At that time, Dolbin placed her on probation for 23 months, and ordered her to pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment.

However, Dolbin revoked her probation on March 20, 2015, and sentenced her to serve six to 23 months in prison.

Rodriguez admitted violating her parole by failing to report to her supervising officer, moving without permission, failing a drug test and not undergoing a mental health evaluation.

Pottsville police charged her with committing the assault on Jan. 20, 2014, in the city.

Deeds

Ashland — Dorothy M. Hornung, by attorney in fact John P. Klees Jr., to Julia Ann Towers; property on Walnut Street; $7,500.

Blythe Township — Fred J. Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Michalski to Luke J. Spontak; 135 Coal St., Cumbola; $120,000.

Butler Township — Douglas D. and Lindsay A. Fetterolf to Douglas D. and Lindsay A. Fetterolf; 310 Main St., Lavelle; $1.

Randy A. and Patricia A. Yeager to Karen Williams; 0.965-acre property on Township Route 419; $17,500.

George M. and Mary Ann Tokarczyk to Andrew J. Tokarczyk; 0.683-acre property on Legislative Route 53104; $1.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to BWH Properties LLC; 441 W. Main St.; $855.

Coaldale — Kadie Surma to Kadie Surma; 31 E. Lehigh St.; $1.

Kadie Surma, executrix of the Estate of John F. Surma, to Kadie Surma; 37 E. Moser Ave.; $1.

Kadie Surma, executrix of the Estate of John F. Surma, to Kadie Surma; 37 E. Lehigh Ave.; $1.

Kadie Surma, executrix of the Estate of John F. Surma, to Kadie Surma; 117 W. Water St.; $1.

Cressona — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Alexander Robert Jones; 51 Schuylkill St.; $50,000.

Bradley A. and Pamela M. Barr to Joshua A. Morgan; 135 Pottsville St.; $82,500.

East Brunswick Township — G. Wayne Pace to Jacqueline R. Sabo-Metzinger and Francis P. Balcavage; 513 W. Pheasant Run Road; $723,000.

East Brunswick and West Brunswick townships — Snow Green Acres Ltd. to Larry C. and Barbara A. Hower; six properties; $1.

East Brunswick and West Penn townships — Robert G. Davis to James Michael Gurcsik; 574 Stony Lane; $146,000.

East Norwegian Township — Martin H. and Theresa M. Sterner to Martin H. and Theresa M. Sterner; property; $1.

Frackville — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Arthur D. Wolfgang Jr.; 517 W. Howard St.; $786.

Girardville — Ryon Contracting Inc. to Bruner Realty LLC; property on Ogden Street; $2,000.

Gordon — Deanna M. Sharp, administratrix of the Estate of Vincent J. Gregonis, to Neil N. and Shannon M. Stefanisko; property; $13,000.

Hegins Township — Christine L. Wynn and Ricky P. Deeter to Ricky P. Deeter; 168 Hill Road, Hegins; $1.

Ricky P. Deeter and Christine L. Wynn to Ricky P. Deeter; property on Hill Road, Hegins; $1.

Hubley Township — George A. and Kathy L. Bixler and Andrew R. Bixler to Andrew R. and Mary L. Bixler; two properties; $1.

Kline Township — Donna May Stanley to Robert and Carla F. Minnick; 600 Mountain Top Terrace; $63,000.

Joseph M. and Marian M. Sorka to Joseph M. and Marian M. Sorka; 105 Haddock Road, Haddock; $1.

Joseph M. and Marian M. Sorka to Jason Soika; 105 Haddock Road, Haddock; $1.

Mahanoy City — Daniel A. Lucyk, individually and as executor for the Estate of Lucy Lucyk, and Edward J. Lucyk to Jeremiah G. Spirko Sr.; two properties; $13,000.

Ryon Contracting Inc. to Bruner Realty LLC; property on Centre Street; $5,000.

McAdoo — Robert S. and Debi L. Shandrick to MGN Realty LLC; 9 S. Kennedy Drive; $75,000.

Robert Barna, executor of the Estate of Jean Barna, to Michael and Mary Lombargo; property on Cleveland Street; $55,000.

Joyce Rawlings-Davies to Peter Bumbulsky; 211 E. Sherman St.; $53,000.

Minersville — Lester Krasno, executor and trustee under the Last Will & Testament of Betty G. Krasno, to LAK Properties LLC; property on Sunbury Street; $123,000.

Guy T. Robinson Sr. to Jeremiah Johnson; 18 Sunbury St.; $48,000.

North Manheim Township — David C. and Lisa Jones to Bradley Jones and Jodie Webber; 20 Cresswell Ave., Haven Fair Lawn; $1.

Krasno Family Limited Partnership to LAK Properties LLC; 0.36-acre property on Route 61; $296,000.

Boardwalk Real Estate LLC to Bright Sky LLC; 227 Route 61 South; $133,000.

Joseph E. Gnidzinski to The 562 Terminal Facility Limited Partnership; easement on property on Route 61; $20,000.

JSTTOPS LLC to Capgrow Holdings JV Sub II LLC; 131 Albert Blvd., Haven Fair Lawn; $162,500.

North Union Township — William C. and Margaret A. Brownlee to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 12WS, Eagle Rock; $7,500.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Cyril B. Murga and Elisa S. Urrutia; Lot 2EA, Eagle Rock; $47,303.97.

Lolly M. Marchant to John P. Lyback and Mei Mei Tan; 681 Tahoe Lane, Cove Vacation Village; $90,000.

Norwegian Township — Riverview Bank to Kyle D. and Tara K. Crouch; 31 Beech St.; $125,000.

Beth Lynn Senawaitis, executrix of the Estate of John J. Senawaitis, to Travis S. and Melissa L. Nagy-Deak; property at Fourth and Walnut streets, Mar Lin; $2,000.

Mar Lin Land Co. to Travis S. and Melissa L. Nagy-Deak; property on West Fourth Street; $1.

Beth Lynn Senawaitis, executrix of the Estate of John J. Senawaitis, to Travis S. and Melissa L. Nagy-Deak; 504 Beechwood Ave., Mar Lin; $193,000.

Bradley J. and Cynthia M. Petchulis to Michael C. Miller; two properties; $250,000.

James V. Jr. and Ellen M. Ryan to James V. Ryan III, Amy Ryan O’Brien and Marie Ryan Huda; 0.95-acre property; $1.

Palo Alto — Fay E. McElvaney to Ann T. Cromyak; 301 W. Savory St.; $95,000.

Pine Grove — Christian J. and Melanie S. Kochler to Brian K. Cooper Jr.; 59 Mifflin St.; $70,000.

Pine Grove Township — Ashley Aungst to Bary R. and Sharon Y. Spittler; 109 Pleasant Valley Road; $1.

Pine Grove Township — Jay Khodiyar LLC to 419 Suedberg Associates LLC; 419 Suedberg Road; $1,319,658.04.

Nestle Waters North America Inc. to Pennsylvania Game Commission; 14.476-acre property on Swopes Valley Road; $10.

Nestle Waters North America Inc. to Pennsylvania Game Commission; 7.457-acre property on Swopes Valley Road; $10.

Jeanne A. Schaeffer, administratrix of the Estate of Richard R. Romberger Jr., to Jeanne A. Schaeffer; 113 Suedberg Road; $1.

Port Carbon — Barbara K. Moshinski to Jacob O. and Vonda L. Michaluk; 0.21-acre property on Third Street; $17,000.

Kathryn J. Gravish to Alexander Jacob Hufnagle; 706 Park Ave.; $37,000.

Stephen Gola and Joan Huey to Matthew G. Huey; 301 Coal St.; $55,000.

Pottsville — Bryan and Lisa Frederick to Thomas J. Bowers; 820 Clinton St.; $1.

Gregory Myers to Angela Altemose; 1124 W. Norwegian St.; $16,000.

U.S. Bank NA to Patrick Byrnes; 2058 Yokewood Road; $110,000.

Lester Krasno, executor and trustee under the Last Will & Testament of Betty G. Krasno, to BGK Real Estate LLC; property on Elk Avenue; $170,000.

Pietro Cardiello to KRC Home Solutions LLC; 711 W. Market St.; $16,000.

Marian M. Smith to J.C 168 Realty Inc.; 401 Nichols St.; $15,000.

Debra Ann Guers and Mark A. Grapsy, trustees under The Grapsy Irrevocable Trust, to William J. and Kelly A. Lecher; property on West End Avenue; $52,000.

Michael R. and Karen Muncy to Jeffrey Frankenstein and Kelly Brennan; property on Howard Avenue; $60,000.

Rush Township — Audrey Walter, Edna Fegley and Lucille Sparr to The Northeast Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; 2 Jones St., Quakake; $1.

Russell T. Yallas to Gregory Nicholas Danchak Sr. and Christianne F. Bayer; 87 Ryan Ave.; $75,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Eleanor T. Simmerdinger to Carl and Gloria J. Simchena; 208 N. Berne St.; $79,900.

Lester Krasno to LAK Properties LLC; 414 Hess St.; $1.

Joan A. Zaprazny to Kevin N. and Kathy A. Moyer; 203 McKinley St.; $141,000.

Jonathan Dreher to Krull Holdings Inc.; 117 Center Ave.; $30,500.

Shenandoah — Gary Walsh, executor of the Estate of Bernadette M. Walsh, to Gary and Bridget Walsh; garage on Route 54; $1.

Andrew M. and Sheila L. Kalce to Emmanuel Valero; property on South West Street; $15,000.

Locust Valley Partners LLC to Jeanette Rosado; 121 N. Jardin St.; $14,000.

John J. Wicker to Matthew Woosly; 210 W. Lloyd St.; $100.

John J. Wicker to Matthew Woosly; 634 W. Penn St.; $100.

Mary T. Yoder and Susan Linda Varga to Italia Inoa and Ileen Reinoso; property on East Lloyd Street; $2,000.

Celtic Real Estate Investment LLC to Alejandro and Carmen Sernatti; 311 S. Market St.; $13,000.

CLA Properties to Raul A. Martinez and Ana J. Reyes; 330 S. Jardin St.; $10,000.

South Manheim Township — Joseph R. and Wendi A. Carpenter to Joseph R. Carpenter; 102 Woodland Drive; $1.

South Manheim Township — JMAC Realty LLC to Capgrow Holdings JV Sub II LLC; 537 Woodland Drive; $140,500.

Wayne and Debra Shultz to David M. and Claire L. Rieger; 3.1108-acre property on Stoney Mountain Road; $75,000.

Tamaqua — Frank P. Kane to Matthew J. and Lisa M. Hope; 1.1-acre property on West Cottage Avenue; $70,000.

Jenna L. and Jamie A. Turner to Joshua M. and Mary M. Carter; 416 Pine St.; $35,000.

Joshua M. and Mary M. Carter to Joshua M. and Mary M. Carter; 416-418 Pine St.; $1.

Stanley W. Wychulis, individually and as executrix of the Estate of Ruth Wychulis, to Peter Georgies; 332 Washington St.; $10,000.

Tower City — Blue Mountain Investment Properties LLC to John and Colette A. Viozzi; 716 E. Grand Ave.; $9,900.

Tremont Township — Jeanne A. Schaeffer, administratrix of the Estate of Richard R. Romberger Jr., to Jeanne A. Schaeffer; 223 Tremont Road; $1.

Upper Mahantongo Township — Karen E. and Dennis P. Heim, Kenneth L. Heim and Darlene M. and David Roadcap to Gary F. and Gail I. Laudenslager; 96 Leck-Bush Road, Klingerstown; $79,000.

Wayne Township — Gloria J. Haremza to Gloria J. Haremza; 951 Summer Hill Road; $1.

Sharon E. Strause to James and April Peachey; 1-acre property; $45,000.

West Brunswick Township — Erik V. Wolfe and Kristi R. Wolfe, co-executors of the Last Will & Testament of Barbara Irene Peifley, to Stephen R. and Ann Marie C. Buzalko; 1801 Village Road, Pinebrook; $100,000.

Agostino Vaccaro to Thomas L. and Mary Ann M. Kowalonek; 115 Tunnel Road; $1.

West Mahanoy Township — James Lombard and Rose Marie Sosna, individually and as executors of the Last Will & Testament of Eleanor P. Lombard, Virginia M. Lombard and John McHugh to Rysgard Panek and Meghan M. Peters; 262 Arizona Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $70,000.

Haven woman

injured in Berks

HAMBURG — A Schuylkill Haven woman who was a passenger in a car that was struck by another suffered a minor injury in a multiple vehicle crash Saturday in Berks County, police said.

State police at Hamburg said a 1998 Dodge Durango driven by Donna S. Graff, 43, of Kempton, collided with the back end of a line of vehicles on Pottsville Pike, 623 feet south of South Fourth Street, at 12:28 p.m. as a vehicle was waiting to turn into the Speedway. The front vehicle was not involved in the crash, police said.

Police said three vehicles were involved as a 2014 Nissan Altima driven by William M. Shay, 59, of Schuylkill Haven, was propelled into the back of a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Taylor S. Leatherman, 23, of Dauberville. After Graff’s vehicle hit the back end of Shay’s vehicle, Graff and Shay’s vehicles were disabled as a result of the crash and had to be towed from the scene.

A front passenger in Shay’s vehicle, Marie A. Shay, 55, suffered a minor injury, police said.

A passenger in Graff’s vehicle, Kayla R. Graff, 17, of Kempton, and a passenger in Leatherman’s vehicle, Emily L. Steffens, 22, of Dauberville, were not injured.

Donna Graff was cited for driving too fast for conditions, as the roadway was wet at the time of the crash, police said.

Tamaqua woman

injured in crash

BARNESVILLE — A Tamaqua woman suffered a minor injury in a crash Friday on Route 54 in Ryan Township, police said.

State police at Frackville said Molly Neifert, 37, was traveling west on Route 54 at 7:10 a.m., just 246 feet west of Crystal Lane, when she lost control of a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser she was driving while rounding a right curve in the road. Police said the vehicle traveled off the north berm, struck a utility pole and came to rest in a grassy area facing in a northwestern direction.

Neifert was transported by Ryan Township Ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale, according to police. She was charged with violating roadways laned for traffic as a result of the accident, police said.

Mail, paper boxes

struck by vehicle

TAMAQUA — Someone struck a mailbox and plastic newspaper box sometime Wednesday morning on Valley Road in Walker Township, police said.

State police at Frackville said a vehicle destroyed the two boxes belonging to Joseph Kuklis Jr., 1333 Valley Road.

The vehicle would have damage to the right front bumper area, police said. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

Posts damaged in

New Castle Twp.

MOUNT LAFFEE — Someone damaged a mailbox and plastic newspaper box on Valley Road over the weekend in New Castle Township, police said.

State police at Frackville said Mark Whiteash, 967 Valley Road, reported the damage, and said that the incident occurred about 10:10 a.m. Friday.

According to police, Whiteash said that a vehicle spun and lost control on the icy roads and struck his mailbox and plastic newspaper box, destroying posts to both. Damage to the vehicle would be at the rear bumper, tail light area, police said.

The vehicle is described as a Ford Escape, possibly dark gray or green. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.